Philosophy and Therapeutic Approach

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” –2 Corinthians 4:6

We are all on a journey. Sometimes the road is paved and smooth, other times it’s a bumpy dirt lane. No matter which road you find yourself on, the journey is always better when you have an understanding person in the car with you! As I pursue my Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, it would be my privilege to be on that road with you.  

Empathy is different than sympathy. Therapy is a welcoming, empathic place to release burdens, cry, grieve, laugh, and experience the joy of being known and seen. Nothing is off limits when there is a safe, welcoming space for you to be human and be heard. 

I utilize a Trauma Informed Narrative Therapy approach along with Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Gottman’s Couple Therapy. For my work with kiddos, I am studying Synergetic Play Therapy.

What to Expect in Therapy

At the beginning of the therapy process, there can be anxiety and excitement at the same time because it is scary to share your story with a stranger! I will work to make sure you are as comfortable as possible and answer any questions with warmth and gentleness. Together we will ensure that we are a good fit and work toward establishing your goals and desires for therapy.  

The first few sessions will be a “getting to know you” phase – it may feel like an endless list of questions to answer, however, the purpose of all these questions is to establish a strong therapeutic relationship as I gain an understanding of your story. The process will get easier, but sometimes it feels worse. Therapy can be like untangling a fishing line–it seems impossible, but if you are patient and trust the process, great things await! 

I can integrate a spiritual aspect to counseling through prayer, guided imagery, and/or scripture if that is something you desire.

Personal Qualifications and Experience

I have worked with adolescents for over 25 years through Young Life. I love working with individuals, couples, families, teens, and young kids. I bring an artist’s eye to therapy and enjoy incorporating art and creativity into the therapeutic process. I worked as an artist painting and selling many large contemporary landscapes for 15 years.

I have an undergraduate degree from LSU (I am originally a Southern girl) in interior design, but found myself drawn to working in ministry, along with my husband, for the majority of my adult life. To expand my abilities in supporting those seeking help, I decided to pursue my graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University!

Personal Interests

I have been married to my best friend for 22 years. We have 4 beautiful children and a

Bernese Mountain Dog. Our motto in our family is–if we don’t agree on anything, we all agree on how much we love our dog!  

My husband and I work together to renovate homes as well as serve with Young Life College at CU Boulder. We enjoy adventures such as backpacking, hiking, climbing, fly-fishing, and movie nights with our kids snacking on “movie salad” (popcorn and M&M’s).